Tab for an easy-opening container



May 20, 1969 o. L. BROWN TAB FOR AN EASY-OPENING'CONTAINER Filed March 14. 1968 "wan/ran. 001a, Z. flrawn /ffflau JAM 4rraa A i);

United States Patent 3,445,028 TAB FOR AN EASY-OPENING CONTAINER Omar L. Brown, Dayton, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Erma] C. Fraze, Dayton, Ohio Fiied Mar. 14, 1968, Ser. No. 713,007 Int. Cl. B65d 17/24 U.S. Ci. 220--54 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure describes a tab of the type usable with easy-opening containers to forcibly remove a segment of a wall of the container. The tab is constructed of sheet material and includes a tab body of an attachment portion joined by a connecting wall adjacent one end of the tab body. A marginal portion of the tab body is curled to form a peripheral reinforcing curl which extends along the sides of the tab and engages at least a central portion of the connecting wall to support the latter.

Background of the invention An easy-opening container typically includes a container wall having a line of weakness therein defining a removable tear portion. A tab is secured to the tear portion to remove the tear portion. The tab may be of the rear-opening type in which the tear portion is raised from the container wall to initiate severance thereof, or of the front-opening type in which the tear portion is depressed into the container to initiate severance thereof. It is desirable to provide a tab construction that is usable either as a front or a rear opener.

A conventional front-opening tab includes a tab body and an attachment portion joined together adjacent one end of the tab body. This type of front opening tab can also be used as a rear opener to lift a relatively narrow tear strip ofi of a container wall. However, such a tab is relatively large and requires a considerable amount of sheet material in the form of an intermediate web and an intermediate reinforcing bead, all of which increase the cost of the tab.

One reason that the relatively large size and additional material are required is that tabs of this type are relatively structurally weak and subject to failure during use. In an attempt to prevent the tabs from failing structurally, tabs of increased size have been used, and in some instances, the tabs have been constructed of steel. Steel tabs are undesirable because the tooling required to make them is more expensive and wears out much more quickly than the tooling used for fabricating tabs from sheet aluminum. Notwithstanding the use of steel and the increase in size of these tabs, failure thereofoccurs not infrequently.

Summary of the invention The present invention provides a strong tab Which can be constructed with a minimum of material and the tab can be used as a front or rear opener. The tab is constructed of sheet material such as sheet aluminum. The tab requires a minimum of material in that the tab includes a tab body of minimum radial width in the form of a narrow band formed into a closed loop and defining a relatively large opening. The tab has a small attachment portion which is integral with the tab body and projects into the opening.

To provide the requisite strength, a marginal portion of the tab body is turned inwardly to define an outer reinforcing bead which extends at least substantially continously along the opposite sides of the tab body for preferably the full distance between the ends of the tab body. To further increase the strength of the tab, the region of the sheet material adjacent the opening can be turned outwardly to define an inner reinforcing bead which extends for a substantial distance around the opening. The radial width of the tab is held to a minimum and may be as small as the width of the inner and outer reinforcing beads. No panels or webs other than the relatively small attachment portion are required.

The attachment portion is joined to the tab body by a connecting wall and the tab body can pivot relative to the attachment portion when the attachment portion is connected to the tear portion. Prior art tabs of this general type are inherently weak adjacent the juncture of the tab body and the attachment portion and often tear out across the connecting wall. According to the present invention the outer reinforcing bead engages at least a central portion of the outer face of the connecting wall to reinforce and support the connecting wall. Thus, when the tab body is raised to remove the tear portion of the force applied to the tab it tends to force the connecting wall outwardly, the reinforcing bead engages the connecting wall and prevents substantial deformation thereof.

The tab of the present invention can be used as a rear opener by positioning the forward end, i.e., the end adjacent the attachment portion, over a region of the container wall lying outside the tear portion and by positioning the handle portion of the tab over the tear portion. Thus, when the tab body is pivoted to remove the tear portion, the forward end of the tab bears on the container wall and a lifting force is applied to the attachment portion. When the tab is so used, it is desirable to make the attachment portion strong and rigid so that it will operate to lift the edge of the tear portion outwardly from the container wall. With the present invention, the outer bead supports the connecting wall and to this extent indirectly supports and strengthens the attachment portion which is joined to the connecting wall. In addition, a peripheral region of the attachment portion may be turned to form a flange on the attachment portion to further stiffen and strengthen the attachment portion.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation together with further features and advantages thereof may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying illustrative drawings.

Brief desclipiion of the drawing FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an easy-opening container wall having a tab constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention mounted thereon.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the righthand portion of the tab and container wall shown in FIG. 2 illustrating how the outer reinforcing bead engages and supports the connecting wall.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the forward end of the tab with the tab inverted to show the support of the connecting wall.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 and illustrating the peripheral flange on the attachment portion.

Description 0 the preferred embodiment Referring to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, reference numeral 11 designates an easy-opening container wall constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. The container wall 11 includes a circular can end 13 having a conventional peripheral attachment flange 15 thereon. The can end 13 is constructed of sheet material such as sheet aluminum and has a line of weakness or score line 17 therein defining a tear portion 19 which is removable from the remainder of the can end 13. A tab 21 is secured to the leading end of the tear portion 19 by any suitable means such as a hollow rivet 23 formed integrally with the material of the leading end of the tear portion. Of course, the shape of the can end 13 and of the score line 17 may be varied to suit particular packaging requirements.

The tab 21 is a ring tab and generally includes a tab body 25 and an attachment portion 27. The tab body 25 surrounds the attachment portion 27 and defines a relatively large opening 29 into which the attachment portion projects. As shown in FIG. 1, the tab body 25 is in the form of a relatively narrow peripheral band and the attachment portion 27 is in the form of a relatively small attaching ear.

Preferably the tab 21 is integrally constructed of a single piece of sheet material such as sheet aluminum. A marginal portion of the tab 21 is turned downwardly and inwardly to form an outer peripheral bead or curl 31 which preferably extends at least substantially continuously around the complete periphery of the tab. The outer head 31 lends substantial stiffness to the tab body and is preferably not interrupted except as may be required to facilitate fabrication or movement of the tab in the strip in which it is fabricated. To further stiffen the tab body 25, a region of the sheet material immediately surrounding the opening 29 is turned downwardly and outwardly to define an inner reinforcing bead 33. The inner head 33 preferably extends at least substantially continuously around the opening 29 and terminates adjacent the attachment portion 27. As shown in FIG. 4, the inner bead 33 may blend into the attachment portion 27. As shown in FIG. 2, the two heads 31 and 33 may be rolled into substantial contact with each other.

The attachment portion 27 is integrally joined to the tab body .25 by a connecting wall 35 (FIG. 3) which may be considered as part of the tab body 25. As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the outer head 31 is widened at the forward end of the tab 21 so that it will engage an outer face 37 of the connecting wall 35. Preferably, the outer bead 31 terminates inwardly in an end wall or bead end 39 which is held in engagement with the outer face 37 of the connecting wall 35.

As shown in FIG. 4, the bead end 39 is substantially straight so that it supports the connecting wall 35 at a central region thereof and, in the embodiment illustrated, the connecting wall is supported for the full width thereof. The attachment portion 27 has a peripheral region thereof turned upwardly to form a peripheral upstanding flange 41 (FIG. 4) which preferably extends continuously around the attachment portion except for the region thereof bounded by the connecting wall 35. The attachment portion 27 has an aperture 43 therein for receiving the rivet 23 to attach the tab 21 to the tear portion 19. The sheet material of the tab 21 adjacent the juncture of the attachmen portion 27 and the tab body 25 is sufficiently bendable or pliable to permit relative hinged or pivotal movement between the tab body and the attachment portion.

In the embodiment illustrated, the tab 21 is mounted to initiate severance of the tear portion 19 from the remainder of the can end 13 in rear-opening fashion. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the attachment portion 27 overlies the leading end of the tear portion 19 and the forward end 45 (FIG. 1) of the tab overlies a region of the container wall 13 outside the tear portion and closely adjacent the leading end thereof. The tab body extends from the forward end 45 generally along the edges of the tear portion 19 and crosses the tear portion adjacent the attachment flange 15.

With the tab so arranged, the rear end of the tab defines a lifting portion 47 (FIG. 1) which can be lifted by the user. The tab body 25 forms a longitudinally rigid lever. When the tab body 25 is raised, the forward end 45 thereof bears against the container wall outside of the tear portion 19, and an upward lifting force is applied to the leading end of the tear portion 19 through the connecting wall 35, the attachment portion 27, and the rivet 23. When this lifting force reaches a predetermined magnitude, the sheet material ruptures along the score line 17 at the leading end of the tear portion. Following initial rupture of the material, the user may direct an outward pulling force on the tab body 25 to easily completely remove the tear portion 19.

During the lifting or pivoting of the tab body 25, it will be apparent that the forces acting on the tab 21 will urge the connecting wall 35 to the right, as viewed in FIG. 3. However, because the head 31 engages the outer face 37 of the connecting wall 35, the connecting wall is adequately supported to substantially prevent deformation thereof. This support of the connecting wall 35 makes application of the force exerted by the user on the tab body 25 to the tear portion 19 more etfective. Such force application is made still more effective by the presence of the flange 41 on the periphery of the attachment portion 27. Although the flange 41 may project downwardly, it is preferred to have this flange extend upwardly so that the main portion of the attachment portion 27 may lie flat against the container wall 13.

Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, many changes, modifications, and substitutions may be made by one having ordinary skill in the art without necessarily departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

Iclaim:

1. A tab of the type attachable to a wall of an easyopening container to initiate severance of a segment of said wall, comprising:

an attachment portion constructed of sheet material and adapted to lie contiguous to the container wall;

a tab body constructed of sheet material and at least substantially circumscribing said attachment portion, said tab body having a connecting wall adjacent one end thereof joined to said attachment portion and extending upwardly from said attachment portion whereby said attachment portion and said tab body are interconnected, the other end of said tab body defining a lifting end, the sheet material of said tab being sufficiently pliable adjacent said connecting Wall and said attachment portion to define hinge means for allowing said tab body to pivot relative to said attachment portion whereby moving of the lifting end of the tab body away from the container wall forces said one end of the tab body against the container wall and applies a force to said connecting wall; and

a marginal portion of the tab body being turned inwardly to form a bead extending along the sides of the tab body to stiffen the latter against bending forces and extending continuously and completely over said one end of said tab body, said bead being en-gageable with at least a central portion of the outer face of said connecting wall adjacent said hinge means to reinforce said connecting wall to allow said connecting wall to resist said force without failure.

2. A tab as defined in claim 1 wherein said head terminates inwardly in a head end and said head end engages said outer face of said connecting wall to reinforce said connecting wall.

3. A tab of the type attachable to the wall of an easyopening container to initiate severance of a segment of said wall, comprising:

an attachment portion constructed of sheet material and adapted to lie contiguous to the container wall to attach the tab to the container wall;

a tab body constructed of sheet material, said tab body circumscribing said attachment portion and being integrally joined thereto adjacent one end thereof with the other end of said tab body defining a lift ing end;

a marginal region of said tab body being turned inwardly to define an outer reinforcing bead extending at least substantially continuously around the complete periphery of the tab and at least substantially circumscribing said attachment portion to thereby substantially stifien said tab throughout the full length thereof; said tab body defining an opening therein of sufficient size to receive the finger of a user, the region of sheet material adjacent said opening being turned outwardly to define an inner reinforcing bead which extends for a substantial distance around the opening to further stiifen the tab body, said attachment portion projecting into said opening; and the sheet material of said tab being sufliciently pliable adjacent the juncture of said attachment portion and said tab body to define a hinge line which allows said tab body to pivot relative to said attachment portion whereby moving of the lifting end of the tab away from the container wall forces said one end of said tab body against the container wall and applies a force thereto. 4. A tab as defined in claim 3 wherein said inner and outer beads are rolled toward each other and into engagement over substantial portions of their lengths.

5. A tab as defined in claim 3 wherein a peripheral region of the sheet material of said attachment portion is bent to stifien the attachment portion against bending.

6. A tab of the type attachable to the wall of an easyopening container to initiate severance of a segment of said wall, comprising:

an attachment portion and a tab body integrally constructed of a single piece of sheet material, said attachment portion adapted to lie continguous to the container wall and to attach the tab to the container wall; said tab body at least substantially circumscribing said attachment portion and being integrally joined thereto adjacent one end thereof with the other end of said tab body defining a lifting end;

the marginal regions of said tab body being turned inwardly to define an outer reinforcing bead extending at least substantially completely around the tab bod said t b body having a finger opening therein with a region of the sheet material surrounding said opening being bent downwardly, said attachment portion being joined to the downwardly bent portion adjacent said one end of the tab body; and

the sheet material of said tab being sufliciently pliable adjacent the juncture of said attachment portion and said tab body to define a hinge line which allows the tab body to pivot relative to said attachment portion whereby moving of the lifting end of the tab body away from the container wall forces said one end of said tab body against the container wall and applies a force thereto.

7. A tab as defined in claim 6 wherein the outer bead at said one end of the tab body engages the region of the downwardly bent portion to which the attachment portion is connected to thereby support such region of the downwardly bent portion.

8. In an easy-opening container, the combination of:

a container wall having a line of weakness therein defining a tear portion having a leading end;

a tab constructed of sheet material, said tab having a tab body and an attachment portion, said tab body at least substantially circumscribing said attachment portion, said attachment portion at least partially overlying the leading end of said tear portion;

means for connecting said attachment portion to said leading end of the tear portion with at least a portion of said one end of said tab overlying the container wall outside of said tear portion;

said tab body having a connecting wall adjacent one end thereof joined to said attachment portion and ex- Whereby said attachment portion and said tab body are interconnected, the other end of said tab body defining a lifting end, the sheet material of said tab being sufficiently pliable adjacent said connecting wall and said attachment portion to define hinge means for allowing said tab body to pivot relative to said attachment portion whereby moving of the lifting end of the tab body away from the container wall forces said one end of the tab body against the container wall and applies a lifting force through said attachment portion to said tear portion; and

a marginal portion of the tab body being turned inwardly to form a bead extending along both sides of the tab body to stiffen the latter against bending forces and extending continuously and completely over said one end of said tab body, said bead being engageable with at least a central portion of the outer face of said connecting wall adjacent said hinge means to reinforce said connecting wall.

9. A combination as defined in claim 8 wherein a peripheral region of the sheet material of the attachment portion is bent to form a peripheral flange of the attachment portion.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS GEORGE T. HALL, Primary Examiner,

Disclaimer 3,445,028.-0mar L. Brown, Dayton, Ohio. TAB FOR AN EASY-OPENING CONTAINER. Patent dated May 20, 1969. Disclaimer filed July 28, 1969, by the assignee, Ermal 0. Fraze. Hereby enters this disclaimer to claims 1-4 and 68 of said patent.

[Oyficial Gazette November 4, 1.969.] 

